Voting ends at noon: The Top 10 stories of 2007

2007 was a busy year in Northeast Georgia. The area was hit hard by a record-setting drought. A local man became lieutenant governor. Our high school sports teams had great success. Lake Lanier turned 50.

For some, Christmas still means business

While many are at home breaking bread on Christmas, others have to go to work and earn it. For those people, working on Christmas is just part of the business.

Holiday lunch gives gift to volunteers, too

At noon, the good news is that volunteers come to serve lunch. And no one even asks them to come.

Clermont postal workers play Santa on Christmas

Through rain, sleet, snow and even Christmas, the Clermont Post Office delivers. While the rest of the U.S. Postal Service only delivered Express Mail on Christmas, employees of the Clermont Post Office did their best to sort and deliver the rest of the city's Christmas presents. "You can pretty well recognize if there's a package for Christmas," said rural carrier Jim Crawford. "We make a point to deliver those." Dressed as his alter ego, Santa ...

Long lines awaited Christmas Day moviegoers

GAINESVILLE - Christmas movies are a long-standing holiday tradition, but going to the movies on Christmas is a tradition that had some in Hall County standing in long lines. Tuesday, at Gainesville's GTC Hollywood 15 Cinemas, the line for tickets stretched the length of a football field past the ticket window. And many moviegoers were happy to wait in the 50-degree weather to see much-anticipated films ...

Schools may try Bible classes

GAINESVILLE - Bible elective classes as sanctioned by the state Department of Education could be coming to Hall County schools in the fall of 2008. The district is looking at starting "Literature and History of the Old Testament Era" and "Literature and History of the New Testament Era." The half-unit classes would familiarize students with contents of the Old and New Testaments and the history recorded by ...

Recycle that tree

It's Christmas Day, and that pine tree in the corner of the room is already looking dried-out and tired.

Tradition lights way for the Christ child

For nearly 40 years, Kevin and Sam McAvoy have lugged Christmas with them as they trotted from Heidelberg, Germany, to Miami to El Paso, Texas, and finally to North Hall. Kevin McAvoy, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, has lived with his wife, Sam, on Shoreline Drive off Mount Vernon Road for 18 years. The couple is often responsible for igniting the Christmas spirit in the neighborhood, and Kevin McAvoy dresses as Santa on Christmas Eve - just as he has done for the past 39 years.

Playing it S.A.F.E.

GAINESVILLE - Lorena Mosqueda knows she better be in school. "If I don't, Ms. Reed will come pick me up," said the 14-year-old eighth-grader of East Hall Middle School's graduation specialist, Anne Reed.

Parents wonder: Is any toy safe?

This Christmas shopping season, some parents and grandparents could be seen nervously perusing the toy aisles, picking up boxes and looking for the country of origin. If they saw the words "Made in China," the box went back on the shelf.

Mobile home fire considered ‘suspicious’

Hall County Fire Services is investigating a fire that destroyed a mobile home early Friday.

Holiday movie goers may see disaster ads

After the gifts have been opened and dinner has been eaten, there's not much to do on Christmas except go to the movies. That's what the Georgia Department of Human Resources is counting on.

Man strings lights despite blindness

After dark, anyone driving down Lights Ferry Road in Flowery Branch can see the 'Merry Christmas' message beaming from Tommy Tallent's yard. It took Tallent two full days to craft the 25-foot-long message out of white Christmas lights and neatly border the nearly 6-foot-high letters standing against his fence with red bulbs.

Better not pout, because Santa's already in town

GAINESVILLE - Hang your stockings and say your prayers, because Santa Claus comes tonight. But the jolly old elf already has been spotted in town, as Gainesville's real Santa has been making numerous visits in Northeast Georgia and has seen hundreds of children. He took a few minutes from visiting with children Friday at Peach State Bank in Gainesville to give The Times some insight into the life of Santa.

Last-minute shoppers flock to Flowery Branch

FLOWERY BRANCH - As children are shuffled between choir practice and Santa's lap, many shoppers scramble for last-minute gifts at the new Stonebridge Village shopping center. The November opening of Kohl's department store and The Home Depot has provided local procrastinators a little more convenience this year. Many shoppers have foregone a trip to the Mall of Georgia in Buford and instead have found gifts at the new development.

Business owners slogging through flood damage

Outside The Tire Store and Lakeview Automotive Group on Atlanta Highway in Flowery Branch, workers hauled equipment to dry areas and washed sheets of mud off the pavement.

Hall schools board discusses options to balance budget

The Hall County Board of Education grappled with "philosophical issues" as it discussed ways to continue to function with a tight budget next year.

Fair Street students may use tablet computers next fall

Gainesville's technology director gave City Board of Education members a Kuno tablet computer to play with briefly Monday night.

McEver still closed, fire official reports

Under sunny skies and no trace of rain, area governments worked Monday to fix roads that had been damaged, some seriously, by fierce storms overnight Sunday.

Atheists to put books next to Bibles in state parks

Boil water advisories still in effect for some

A boil water advisory is in effect for those served by Flowery Branch along with 18 homes at the end of Trudy Drive served by Gainesville.

Eyes on the Road: More feet added to Ga. 53 fix in Dawson County

An additional 500 feet of Thompson Road will be closed as part of a Georgia Department of Transportation project to rebuild the road's intersection at Ga. 53 in Dawson County.

New law to help vets get into workforce

Retired Hall County military veterans Stephen McGruder and Johnny Varner hope a new Georgia law will aid them in helping vets seamlessly transition into the civilian workforce.

Fellowship to help Gainesville student study law at Mercer

Whit Carmon was stepping off the bus after delivering his final term paper at the University of Georgia when his phone rang.

New state law to protect federal park rangers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ranger Ken Weiner is still suffering physically from when he was attacked last year at Burton Mill Park.

South Hall flooding causes county to declare emergency

Early Sunday storms rocked Hall County, leaving heavy flooding, collapsed roads and other damage in its wake.

Ga. water negotiator's role may be seen as conflict

Rock in the Spring concert benefits local school

Concertgoers look over items in a silent auction Saturday night at the Rock in the Spring fundraiser at Brenau University ampitheater. Proceeds benefit the local school Challenged Child and Friends, an early intervention center in Gainesville that provides special needs and typically developing children the opportunity to learn together and from each other. Local musicians Mid Life Crisis played at the event. Local musicians Mid Life Crisis perform Saturday night for the audience at the Brenau ...

Riverside Military Academy opens campus home for president

Riverside Military Academy welcomed a new addition to its campus Saturday, something it hasn't had since 2005: A home for the school president.

Powerball: Did these numbers change your life?

Winning numbers: 22-10-13-14-52